Thailand Tumbles: Country loses two points in global passport ranking

[snoop1130]

Thailand Tumbles: Country loses two points in global passport ranking

By Coconuts Bangkok

 

 

Thailand dropped two points in scoring done by the Passport Index, an international ranking system that rates how easily citizens from different countries can travel without a visa.

 

On the 2017 index, Thailand placed 107 out of 199 countries ranked. The country got 70 on the index’s “visa-free” scoring, which rates how many countries holders of a certain passport can visit without a visa or by obtaining a visa-on-arrival. It turns out that Thai citizens can visit 34 countries without a visa and they can obtain a visa-on-arrival at 36 more countries.

 

Thailand got 72 in the visa-free ranking last year, but the site did not identify which two countries dropped Thailand from visa-free/visa-on-arrival status.

 

Full Story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2017/01/17/thailand-tumbles-country-loses-two-points-global-passport-ranking

 

-- © Copyright Coconuts Bangkok 2017-1-17

[rkidlad]

Now my missus travels with me more, she gets more annoyed about her passport. But instead of being angry with other countries and their rules, she gets angry with her country for not getting their act together like so many other countries have. 

[Luckysilk]

12 hours ago, rkidlad said:

Now my missus travels with me more, she gets more annoyed about her passport. But instead of being angry with other countries and their rules, she gets angry with her country for not getting their act together like so many other countries have. 

How can Thailand change this ? I would have thought Thais are not welcomed as easily because they overstay in other country's and take up jobs that are deemed as inappropriate.

 

Oddly when my Mrs uses her foreign passport on arrival in Thailand she's treated like a leper.

[rkidlad]

8 minutes ago, Luckysilk said:

How can Thailand change this ? I would have thought Thais are not welcomed as easily because they overstay in other country's and take up jobs that are deemed as inappropriate.

 

Oddly when my Mrs uses her foreign passport on arrival in Thailand she's treated like a leper.

I mean if the country becomes more reputable. Look at Colombia for example. Ask many people what they think of when they hear 'Colombia' and often people might say drugs and/or crime. Colombia was in pretty bad shape (maybe even a failed state) when Escobar was around and for a while after. Now they're getting their act together and Colombians can get a visa on arrival instead of a Schengen visa for the EU. 

 

Colombia is not the only country either. My missus knows that Thailand has the potential but is being deliberately held back to benefit the very very few. 

[scotchonrocks]

If Thailand doesn't get its act together pdq, it's reputation as a tourist destination is going to get like it's passport acceptability.

[klauskunkel]

Quote

Thailand Tumbles: Country loses two points in global passport ranking

However, after the tumble came the jump

Quote

Thailand jumps three spots to 44th in Bloomberg Innovation Index 2017

 

[tigermoth]

Interesting. I hold a NZ passport and when I first came to Thailand I got 90 days admission. NZ was the same for Thai's but it happened that many Thai's overstayed by many years, therefore the visa free entry was reduced to 30 days. Thailand retaliated and NZers now only get 30 days as well.

[anotheruser]

I am guessing that Japan will join the list of countries that don't welcome Thais visa free in the near future.

[elgordo38]

4 hours ago, Luckysilk said:

How can Thailand change this ? I would have thought Thais are not welcomed as easily because they overstay in other country's and take up jobs that are deemed as inappropriate.

 

Oddly when my Mrs uses her foreign passport on arrival in Thailand she's treated like a leper.

They are afraid maybe she will spread the word of the outside world. 

[spidermike007]

It is just another blatant example of an administration that is putting forth so little effort, offering so little in the way of progressive thought and policies, and "moving the country backwards" at an alarming pace. This is apathy, ignorance, poor selection of ministers, and a complete lack of vision, at the most extreme. The powers that be deserve this demotion in the rankings.

 

My heart goes out to the Thai people who are being misled at every step, and every juncture, by indifferent people, who are obsessed with money and power, at the expense of the masses. 

[tukkytuktuk]

On the subject of passports. The actually Thai passport book is well made with strong good quality paper. The passport I recently got from the U.K is made of low quality thin paper and the photo page is so thin it can easily be torn. What a come down from the last one I had 7 years ago.